Music legend Prince announced on August 31, that he would be performing at Chicago’s United Center September 24 as a part of a residency, called Welcome 2 Chicago.
This show will be the first time he has performed in the windy city, since 2004. Tickets for the September 24 show, which is being promoted by Live Nation Entertainment, go on sale Thursday, September 6 at 10 a.m. Central Time. Presale tickets began September 4 for exclusive United Center newsletter subscribers.
Welcome 2 Chicago follows Prince’s other series of concerts titled, “Welcome 2 America” in 2010 and 2011. Prince had originally announced one date in Chicago, but due to an overwhelming demand a second performance on September 25 at the United Center has been added to the schedule. Tickets to this second concert will also be available to the general public at the same onsale time as the first concert. It is still more shows will be announced soon.
While there have only been two shows announce, the Welcome 2 Chicago show is being referred to as a residency. This is leading some to believe that it could be similar to his Welcome 2 America residency of 21 shows in Los Angeles and New York. The official residency trailer for Welcome 2 Chicago promises fans “a different experience every night.”
If Welcome 2 Chicago is anything like past performances fans can expect to see special guests join the superstar on stage. While there have been no reports of special guests as of yet, past guests include Gwen Stefani, Missy Elliot, Alicia Keys, Sheila E., and Esperanza Splading, among others.
Prince has partnered up with the organization, Rebuild the Dream. Co-founded by civil rights activist and environmental advocate Van Jones, Rebuild the Dream is a platform to working to create equal opportunities for all.
According to Pollstar, Jones stated, “We couldn’t be more excited about partnering with a legend like Prince. Our economic system is broken. Rebuild the Dream exists to unite arts and organize into a potent force to support the Dreams of Our Communities. There are few artists who have Prince’s unwavering commitment to a vision of a sustainable, fair economic future.”
At the United Center, Prince, and Rebuild the Dream will offer fans information on how they can be part of rebuilding their communities. RebuildtheDream.com stated that “Socially-conscious businesses, tech start-ups, entrepreneurs, and other innovators will offer specific tools that individuals and communities can use to improve their economic situation in the short- as well as long-term.”
Since releasing his first album “For You” in 1978, Prince has gone on to produce ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles. Aside from his wild stage presence and costumes, Prince is most widely know for his 1984 soundtrack “Purple Rain.” The album earned a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Diamond Award, according to the StarTribune. The album held the No. 1 spot on Billboard 200 for 24 weeks, a triumph that wasn’t matched until June of this year by Adele’s “21” album.
